The putative etiology and prevention of autism

Steinman, Gary

doi:10.1016/bs.pmbts.2020.04.013

Cited by 22 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 94 publications

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“…IGF-1 controls the glucose metabolism in the developing brain. It has significant effects on fetal and perinatal brain growth—especially in neurogenesis, synaptogenesis, and myelination—and participates in several physiologically relevant neuroprotective mechanisms [ 77 ]. Oligodendrocytes, cerebellar Purkinje cells, and motor neurons seem to be particularly sensitive to IGF-1 deficiency [ 78 ].…”

Section: The Biological Basis Of Autism Spectrum Disordersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dynamic and Systemic Perspective in Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Change of Gaze in Research Opens to A New Landscape of Needs and Solutions

Panisi¹,

Marini

2022

Brain Sciences

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The first step for a harmonious bio-psycho-social framework in approaching autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is overcoming the conflict between the biological and the psychosocial perspective. Biological research can provide clues for a correct approach to clinical practice, assuming that it would lead to the conceptualization of a pathogenetic paradigm able to account for epidemiologic and clinical findings. The upward trajectory in ASD prevalence and the systemic involvement of other organs besides the brain suggest that the epigenetic paradigm is the most plausible one. The embryo-fetal period is the crucial window of opportunity for keeping neurodevelopment on the right tracks, suggesting that women’s health in pregnancy should be a priority. Maladaptive molecular pathways beginning in utero, in particular, a vicious circle between the immune response, oxidative stress/mitochondrial dysfunction, and dysbiosis-impact neurodevelopment and brain functioning across the lifespan and are the basis for progressive multisystemic disorders that account for the substantial health loss and the increased mortality in ASD. Therefore, the biological complexity of ASD and its implications for health requires the enhancement of clinical skills on these topics, to achieve an effective multi-disciplinary healthcare model. Well-balanced training courses could be a promising starting point to make a change.

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Section: The Biological Basis Of Autism Spectrum Disordersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dynamic and Systemic Perspective in Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Change of Gaze in Research Opens to A New Landscape of Needs and Solutions

Panisi¹,

Marini

2022

Brain Sciences

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“…The role of vitamin D in brain development and its functions has been demonstrated in multiple animal and human studies, but its specific role in ASD is still unclear, given the multiple confounding factors in the assessment of their relationship [ 59 ]. However, a small open-label prospective study in siblings of probands with ASD found that vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy and breastfeeding or for the first three years of life for those infants that did not breastfeed led to a four-fold reduction in the recurrence rate [ 60 ], possibly through the enhancement of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels (see below) [ 61 ]. Vitamin D alone or with omega-3 supplementation has been also tried as a secondary measure of prevention in children with ASD, with equivocal results [ 59 , 62 ].…”

Section: Prevention Strategiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Lately ASD has been hypothesised to be an insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1)-related brain dysconnectivity; thus, measures to increase the availability of this molecule postnatally could represent a plausible prevention [ 61 ]. This can be attained through breastfeeding for up to one year, and research data has shown that children with ASD were significantly less likely to have been breastfed [ 63 ].…”

Section: Prevention Strategiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Of course, an adequate breast milk IGF-1 concentration is required, a figure that we currently have not determined. As mentioned above, prenatal or postnatal vitamin D supplementation also increases the circulating IGF-1, offering significant protection [ 60 , 61 ]. Finally, the administration per os of modified forms of IGF in the first year of life can increase the availability of free IGF-1 and protect the hypomyelination of the brain that leads to its dysconnectivity.…”

Section: Prevention Strategiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Prevention in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Lifelong Focused Approach

Francis¹,

Karantanos

Al-Ozairi

et al. 2021

Brain Sciences

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Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex highly heritable disorder, in which multiple environmental factors interact with the genes to increase its risk and lead to variable clinical presentations and outcomes. Furthermore, the inherent fundamental deficits of ASD in social attention and interaction critically diverge children from the typical pathways of learning, “creating” what we perceive as autism syndrome during the first three years of life. Later in life, training and education, the presence and management of comorbidities, as well as social and vocational support throughout the lifespan, will define the quality of life and the adaptation of an individual with ASD. Given the overall burden of ASD, prevention strategies seem like a cost-effective endeavour that we have to explore. In this paper, we take a life course approach to prevention. We will review the possibilities of the management of risk factors from preconception until the perinatal period, that of early intervention in the first three years of life and that of effective training and support from childhood until adulthood.

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“…This is relevant to ASD since autistic children below four years old show lower concentrations of IGF-1 than age-matched controls (Riikonen et al, 2006 ). IGF-1 participates in several physiologically relevant neuroprotective mechanisms and exerts significant effects on foetal and perinatal brain growth, including neurogenesis and synaptogenesis (Steinman, 2020b ). The hyperactivation of systemic immune response and specifically the increase in circulating IL-6 in a mother infected by SARS-CoV-2 could expose the foetus to an aberrant inflammatory environment, which is deleterious for the developing brain.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%